SENATE PASSES GRADUATION STANDARDS
LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan Senate last week passed a bill
requiring high school students to earn 16 specific credits to
graduate, according to Booth Newspapers.

Senate Bill 1124, which passed unanimously, would take effect for
the graduating class of 2011, Booth reported. It contains the
same requirements as House Bill 5606, four years each of math and
English, three years each of social studies and science, one year
each of the arts and physical fitness, but also adds two years of
foreign language. That requirement, starting for the class of
2013, can be taken any time between kindergarten and 12th grade.
Both bills require students take an online course of some type.

The two chambers must work out a compromise before sending the
bill to Gov. Jennifer Granholm to sign, Booth reported. The two
bills also differ on class alternatives, especially in higher-level math and science courses, as well as when the new
requirements begin.

Sen. Wayne Kuipers, R-Holland, and Rep. Brian Palmer, R-Romeo,
chairmen of the Senate and House Education Committees,
respectively, told a group of public school board members and
superintendents they would prefer to avoid a conference
committee, according to the Michigan Information & Research
Service. The legislators told the officials and administrators
they believe the difference between the two chambers can ironed
out before spring break.

The people attending the Lansing conference overwhelmingly said
public schools should get more money to implement the changes
required by the legislation, MIRS reported.

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Report, "Will a state-mandated high school
curriculum of 18 credits ensure better-prepared students in the
21st century? Yes," March 7, 2006
http://www.educationreport.org/7635

Michigan Education Report, "Will a state-mandated high school
curriculum of 18 credits ensure better-prepared students in the
21st century? No," March 7, 2006
http://www.educationreport.org/7636

REDFORD UNION WILL CUT TEACHERS
REDFORD TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Redford Union schools will close three
buildings and eliminate 40 jobs — including teachers — in an
attempt to reduce a $3.7 million deficit, according to The
Detroit News.

Some 41 layoffs will reduce next year's costs by $1.6 million,
although more layoffs will come in future years, Superintendent
Donna Rhodes told The News.

"For too many years, we've waited for things to happen and then
responded," Rhodes said. The district of 4,400 students is being
proactive regarding its financial condition, she told The News.

The three buildings slated to close are non-instructional
buildings. Shuttering them will reduce utility costs by $67,000 a
year, The News reported. The district hopes to balance its budget
by the 2008-2009 school year.

DETROIT SCHOOLS STILL SEEKING SECURITY VOLUNTEERS
DETROIT — An effort to recruit 2,000 security volunteers for
Detroit Public Schools has fallen short thus far, according to
the Detroit Free Press.

Fewer than 100 people have signed up to help assist the DPS
security force, which includes 40 police officers and 300
security officers. Another 50 police officers laid off by the
City of Detroit also have been hired by the district, the Free
Press reported.

The Council of Baptist Pastors of Detroit last month announced
plans to recruit 2,000 volunteers after a string of crimes on or
near DPS property, including stabbings, shootings and armed
robberies, the Free Press reported.

DISTRICTS CONSIDER BUSING CONTRACTS
YPSILANTI, Mich. — Three Washtenaw County school districts are
considering combining and privatizing transportation as a way to
help eliminate budget deficits, according to The Ann Arbor News.

The Ypsilanti, Willow Run and Lincoln districts are jointly
pursuing a plan to consolidate busing and seek bids from private
firms.

"We can't adopt a deficit budget," Ypsilanti Superintendent James
Hawkins said during a meeting with bus drivers and mechanics,
according to The News. "The state won't allow it."

All three districts are facing deficits of at least $3 million,
The News reported. Lincoln Superintendent Fred Williams said his
district spends $60,000 a year per bus for 65 buses, and has been
told a private company can do it for $40,000 per bus.

"I think it's fair to say we're all very interested, but at the
same time we'd like some real numbers," Williams told The News.

The plan has given rise to concerns about district employees
losing jobs, but at least one district official said the best
drivers need not worry.

"If they take over the three districts, they need to hire
drivers," John Fulton, executive director of human resources for
Ypsilanti schools, told The News. "So they're going to be looking
at the three districts to hire the best drivers. They really
don't care if you have 30 years or one year. If you have six
months with the district and you're a good driver, you're going
to be hired."

BAY CITY TO CLOSE SCHOOLS, CUT STAFF
BAY CITY, Mich. — Bay City Public Schools will close two schools
and cut $1 million from its transportation budget in an effort to
erase a $7.4 million budget deficit, according to The Bay City
Times.

Closing Jefferson Elementary and Eastside Middle schools will
reduce costs by $1.4 million, The Times reported, but that hinges
on the sale of two district buildings for $600,000, The Times
reported. Transportation cuts could mean students who live within
a mile of school, or public schools of choice students, will no
longer receive busing service.

Students and parents alike spoke out against the decision.

"By closing Eastside, you are forcing kids to go to bigger
schools," Myra Lowery, 12, said, according to The Times. "Most
kids don't want to go to a bigger school."

Tim Elswick's three children attend the two schools slated to
close. Elswick said he voted yes on a bond proposal last
November, but will vote no on the next one, The Times reported.

The 29 employees at the two schools, including 20 teachers, will
have to bid on other jobs using seniority, The Times said. Others
could be laid off.

MONA SHORES HIGH ELIMINATES PUBLIC SCHOOL CHOICE ENROLLMENT
NORTON SHORES, Mich. — For the first time in 10 years, Mona
Shores High School will be closed to additional public schools of
choice students next year, according to The Muskegon Chronicle.

Of the 4,200 students in the Mona Shores district, about 10
percent, or 420, are public schools of choice students, The
Chronicle reported. State law allows schools to enroll students
from neighboring districts within the same intermediate school
district or from adjacent ISDs. The per-pupil foundation grant
accompanies the student to the new school.

Although the Mona Shores board of education approved 135 new
schools of choice slots for the 2006-2007 school year, none were
at the high school, The Chronicle reported. More than 270 seniors
are expected to graduate this spring, while the class of 2007 is
projected at 345. Slots at the high school were capped because of
overcrowding concerns, The Chronicle reported.

Mona Shores has enrolled almost 830 nonresident students since
schools of choice was approved in 1997, according to The
Chronicle, resulting in $17 million in additional revenue.

"We've tried to use choice as a management tool to maintain our
enrollment numbers, and for the preservation of student programs
and services," Superintendent Terry Babbitt told The Chronicle.

Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "With Clear Eyes, Sincere
Hearts and Open Minds: A Second Look at Public Education in
America," July 27, 2002
http://www.mackinac.org/4447

MICHIGAN EDUCATION DIGEST is a service of Michigan Education
Report (http://www.educationreport.org),
a quarterly newspaper
with a circulation of nearly 150,000 published by the Mackinac
Center for Public Policy (http://www.mackinac.org),
a private,
nonprofit, nonpartisan research and educational institute.